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# LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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^Ihafr.!..-?, iopBtiglit ||o. 



^UNITlD STATES OP AMERICA, t 



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WANTED; 

Patriotic Local Agents, in all Loyal Sec- 
tions, for tlie sale of this Work. Employed 
Agents ordering copies, accompanied bj' the 
cash, can retain 10 cents profit on each 
number. Retail Price, invariabl}' 25 cents. 
Any person can become an Agent by send- 
ing this amount for a specimen copy. 
Soldiers and Regiments supplied at S150 
per thousand. Reader, could you better 
use some of your surplus coins than to buy 
a few copies for friends in the Army ? 
Agents for "Homes for the Friendless," 
and " Benevolent societies," might bring 
to pass double good by influencing the 
People to scatter broadcast this Patriotic 
Work among our half million and upward 
Soldiers. Give a 25 cent copy to every 



WANTED. 

Soldier, deduct 10 cents for special objects 
of charity, and you will have seventy thou- 
sand dollars for humane purposes, and the 
brave sons of Union and Liberty will 
bless you, when peace again shall smile 
upon our Banner ! An appeal to the Public 
would do it. ''Try:' 

Please be particular in writing Name, 
Address, County, and State, Post-Office or 
Express. All orders must be " Cash.'' 
Address, pre-paid by Mail or Express, 
J. H. Kennedy, Lenui, Delaware co., Pa. 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER 
POEMS, 

j I 
CONSECKATED l | 

TO j 

UNION AND LIBE^Kf>. 1 

BY , C/>' ] 

JAMES H0MER^3CENNElm-/-/--<-.7 ^ 

" Union and Liberty — now and forever— one and in- j 
separable."— Webster, ! 

! 

■1 

VOL. I. I 



PENNSYLVANIA: 

J . H. KENNEDY, PUBLISHER, 

LENNI, DELAWARE CO. 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 

1862, by 

J. H. KENNEDY, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Eastern 

District of Pennsylvania. 



2 Z I (-> 3 



ADVERTISEMENT. 



" Why do you select such a long, spread- 
eagle title ?" asks a friend at our, side. 
" Might not something shorter be more in 
taste ? The ' Star-spangled Banner/ is a 
good thing, of course, but it has been so 
much handled, I would be afraid to risk 
appending it to a volume of Poems." Our 
reply is, — We love the "dear old Flag'' 
njore and more every day, and think it 
can never go out of use while we have a 
country. It is the Flag of our Fathers, 
and shall be forever the triumph of our 
sons. It is the Standard of our Indepen- 
dence, and cannat be too widely unfurled. 
God bless the " Star-Spangled Banner !" 
We love the name. It cannot be written 
too long ! too bright ! When the " milky 
baldric of the skies" shall become so fa- 
miliar as to lose its dazzling " sheen," then^ 
and not till then, shall we cease to look out 
smilingly upon our Starry Banner of Union 
and Liberty, waving in victory ! Should 
these pages become as cherished and popu- 

(v) 



VI ADVERTISEMENT. 

lar as the hallowed " Stripes and Stars," 
in the " Land of the free," the " homes of 
the brave," we shall not regret, title or 
publication. 

Reader, you cannot do better than " buy 
this small book." It will fire your pat- 
riotism, invigorate your loyalty, and help 
you to kindle a bonfire to Freedom. Re- 
bellion, it is now to be hoped, will soon be 
dead, " twice dead and plucked up by the 
roots," and that a Sisterhood of States, 
united and liberty-sealed, shall welcome 
home our brave volunteers, with banquets, 
garlands, and songs. While, however, the 
war-bugle is still heard, and 

" Up, up, at the sound, 
The pale, bleeding warrior leaps to his feet, 
And gives to the still, breathing night, at a bound. 
The Stripes and the Stars of his Liberty Sheet — " 

Fellow Freemen, will you not circulate 
this little work "/ree" among the soldiers? 
A second volume containing " Long live 
America !" the *' Republic as our Fathers 
framed it," " Popular Government," the 
*' Union in its Integrity," and like themes 
may be expected. 



THE AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 



Anglo America, my own loved land ! 
The unyielding virtue of the patriot's 
breast, 
Has caused these Union pages to expand, 
— Star-spangled Banner songs, — heaven 
make them blest 
To millions that thy freedom own ! 
Oh, may 
In aftertime, when peace is thine again, 
Thy Freemen not despise their simple 
dress. 
Should upstart critic of their author 
say — 
"As little fire he had within his brain, 
As winter finds in poor men's cottages V 

(vii) 



Vlil THE author's PREFACE. 

Strive shall one soul, that patriotism thrills, 
To part thy rivers and thy realms im- 
mense ? 
Oh ! never, till the fountains from thy hills 
Shall lose their freedom-gush of elo- 
quence 

J. H. K. 
IrameaDj Del. co., Pa. 



C iN T E N T S 



PAGE 

The Author's Preface vii 

Our Land is in Tears 5 

The Dearest and the Greatest Names 7 

Patriotic Poetry 9 

The Swords that Won the Battle 11 

Lyrics op the War for the Union 13 

Soldiers Muster 13 

The Brave Word of Rally 14 

No Truce with Traitors 18 

The Union Forever 22 

Our Starry Baniier 25 

The Patriot's Sacrifice 28 

On to the Charge 29 

The Name of Washington 31 

Ellsworth's Shroud 34 

The Contrast 37 

Mount A^ernon 41 

The Ashes of the Brave 44 

Our Country Must be Saved 46 

The Soldier Lover 49 

Rise, Freemen, in your Might 50 

The Banner of the Sun 52 

Hail Columbia 56 



2 CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

The Sword with God's Blessing 68 

Our Peerless Republic 62 

The Land of my Heart 63 

Love under a War Cloud 65 

The Inauguration 67 

Our Country's Defenders 70 

The Bull Run Panic 74 

Power in the People 77 

The Calibre of the Man 80 

Rallying Song 81 

The Death of Lyon 84 

Ball's Bluff. 87 

The Tomb of Winthrop 90 

Patriotism 93 

The Gift of Tears 94 

Freedom and Country 95 

The Magic of Love 97 

Our Dear Union Land 99 

The Soldier's Betrothed 102 

Oh! the Brave! the Brave! 104 

The Taking of Manassas 108 

Hatteras and Port Royal 110 

The Patriot's Joy 113 

National Thanksgiving Anthem 116 

The Beautiful Fabric ... 118 

Our Country is One 122 

The Gallant Defenders of Sumter and Lexing- 
ton 124 

Union and Liberty 126 



', . " Our 

of the f^ 






Flag 



stain 

on its 
® 






Washington, Scott, 



has no n- 






^ ^ 



Star-Spangled^ 



^. 



fame,' 



\ 




To the Heroes, Patriots, 
Citizens, Native and Adopted, 
■who, in the face of impending 
National destruction, flocked 
around the " Star-Spangled 
Banner," generously sacrificed 
treasure and blood, and nobly 
breasted the dangers, which 
imperilled the " Union," shrin- 
ing the lofty hopes of human- 
ity, this Volume, intended to 
stimulate the brave and the 
free, our Country's Defenders, 
and create a patriotic National 
sentiment, is affectionately 
dedicated. 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER 
POEMS. 



OUR LAND IS IN TEARS. 

The dear land of our holiest love, 
Once peaceful, happy — now in tears ! 

Ah ! with such genial skies above. 
Such vast and fruitful soil, such years 

Of grandeur, power, prosperity — 
A past, so hallowed and sublime — 

A present, future destiny — 
Joy of humanity and time ! 

Weep, shall our country, clothed in shame, 

While despotism, sword, and flame. 

Would Freedom's mighty land and name. 
From the world's darkened map efface. 
Supplanting slavery and disgrace ? 

No ! Patriotism's not so tame, 

(5) 



b STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

As to look on and see the deed, 
Whicli ages shall with sorrow read ! 
For Freedom^ s truth our country stands^ 
The truth of Freedom to all lands ! 

Wave, wave our Starry Banner, wave ! 
From hidden foes, and traitor-brands, 
Polluting minds, destroying hands — 

God shall Columbia save ! 

Long public conscience, lulled to sleep, 
And with a red-hot iron seared, 

O'er human bondage, wakes to weep — 
The young, the noblest brave revered, 

Now rush, from every toil and post. 

To swell the Union file and host. 
And wave our Starry Flag on high ! 
Freemen to live, or patriots die I 
Till peace shall glad our land again ; 

(xod bless the Union of our sires ! 

And bring us from these crucial fires, 
Purer and freer — nobler men ! 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 



THE DEAREST AND THE GREATEST NAMES. 

What names are those, we love to hear 

The lisping child repeat ? 
That sound to the delighted ear, 

So musical and sweet ? 
The names of heroes, princes, kings, 
Whose deeds the Epic Poet sings ? 

Of conquerors, renowned 
In history, who for their crimes, 
In ancient and in modern times. 

Have been by mortals crowned ? 

Ah, no ! such names, but empty sound, 

When even by the sage 
Repeated ! what were the renowned 

Of every clime and age ? 
Were they, the truly great in mind ? 
The benefactors of mankind ? 

Of truth, of peace the friends ? 
Or, were they not, alas ! the most 
Vile and degraded of the lost ? 

Who for their fame contends ? 



8 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

A Caesar, which the world acclaimed, 

In old and pagan times ; 
The heroes, also, that are famed 

For no less honored crimes. 
In Christian lands — in these our days- 
To whom the world its homage pays. 

Red with the blood of shames ! 
Ah ! justice, honesty, and right. 
And innocence, and truth, and light, 

Smile not to bless their names ! 

The dearest and the greatest names, 

Are those which bring to mind 
Virtue and knowledge — all that claims 

The honor of mankind ! 
The names of freemen, great and brave, 
Who fought, from tyranny to save 

Their country, and protect 
Their rights — the birthright of the free ! 
The true friends of humanity, 

The good alone respect ! 

The names ot those, who have excelled 
In wisdom and true worth ! 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

That have hy toil and love expelled 

Yile darkness from the earth ! 
By whom the blind obtained their sight, 
And seen with joy, that there was light, 

Above, below, around ; 
The deaf, their hearing — heard the truth- 
The words, that must forever soothe 
The spirit with their sound ! 



PATRIOTIC POETRY. 

Song, purest of all nature's gifts, 

Melodious, eloquent, sublime ; 
'I'he beautiful of thought, that lifts 

The soul above the cares of time — 
Though mated with humility, 
Small homage has been paid to thee, 
While lustres, brighter than the waves 

(3f ocean, break on Freedom's shore, 
Or, beam above her martyrs' graves. 

Her patriot bards shall thee adore ! 

While error-hiding darkness, wars 

With light — oh ! wrapt in her full noon, 

9 



10 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

As soon might Heaven exile her stars 
As they who with thy smiles commune 

Kxile from this fair world of God, 

One Sabbath-charm thou hast bestowed ! 

( )f old, of old, vice hid his brow, 
An upright victim to secure — 

But impudent, unblushing now. 
He does with it the world allure I 

Yet, though oppressions, vices, wrongs. 
And inhumanities have birth — 
Examples of heroic worth. 
Shall patriotic song set forth 
" Give me" — it was a statesman* spake — 

" The p6/i which writes a nation's sovgs, 
1 care not who its laws may make." 
To teach Columbia's loyal youth, 
Toil, Patriotism, Freedom, Truth, 

To song, the patriot task belongs ! 

* The words of a celebrated statesman — " Give 
rae the pen which writes the songs of a nation, and 
.T care not who may make its laws," 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 11 

THE SWORDS THAT WON THE BATTLE. 

Through the darkness of the present, see 

the future shining bright ! 
Let us nobly do our duty, and ^twill all be 

well and right ! 
Let our country be protected, let true valor 

be esteemed — 
Freedom is divine and glorious like human- 
ity redeemed ! 
Fair as the chaste moon smiling, clear as 

the noonday sun. 
Like an army grand with banners, is the 

land of Washington ! 
Oh I the swords that won the battles, which 

shall Columbia save. 
Have Freedom in their glitter, and Union 

in their wave ! 
Let the patriot-word of rally, 
Come from blooming hill and valley — 
Hail our country's strong defenders ! God 

make them wise and brave I 



12 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Sublime colossal nation ! illumined great 
and vast, 

With thy Washington and Jackson, all 
thy heroes of the past — 

Thy Scott and thy McClellan, thy Gar- 
field and thy Banks, 

Thy Butler, Wool, and Burnside — the thou- 
sajids in thy ranks ! 

Thy Rosencrans, and Sigel, thy Shields, 
and Grant, and Pope — 

Whose sicords have won our battles, there's 
for thy Union hope ! 

The '^Pathfinder * of Empire,^^ with fame 
redeemrd and bright — 

Where there is human bondage, there must 
be woe and blight, 
Sin and curse \ The tvrongpd once 

righted, 
All our Stars shall be united — 

Not in a bond of darkness — but, a Brother- 
hood of Light ! 

* Major General Fremont. 



THE WAR FOR THE UNION. 
A SERIES OF LYRICS. 

" Oh ! say, does the Star-spangled Banner still 

wave, 
O'er the land of the free, and the home of tho 

brave?"— F. S. Key. 

SOLDIERS MUSTER! 

Muster, soldiers ! march and drill — 

Arm ! your bleeding country's calling ! 
Haste, her patriot-ranks to fill — 

Charge, her traitor foes appalling ! 
Go and make a valorous stand, 

Freedom's fire and might possessing, 
For the Union — for the Land, 

Warm with Washington's last blessing ! 

Heroes of Columbia's pride ! 

Sons of liberty and glory ! 
Justice, God are on your side. 

Victory shall sublime your story. 

(13) 



14 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Grod Almiglity bless you ! go 

From the homes, the hearts that love you, 
G-o and strike a vigorous blow, 

For the " Stars and Stripes" above you ! 

Go in the defence of right. 

For our glorious Union battle; 
Claim the thickest of the fight, 

Where the siege guns loudest rattle ! 
Give your youth — your manhood — life, 

For that Union's preservation ; 
Soon shall end the sanguine strife, 

In your country's coronation ! 



THE BRAVE WORD OF RALLY. 

Shall the sword of destroyers our nation 
devour, 
The fire of usurpers, its victims con- 
suming ? 
Oh rise, mighty land ! like the ocean in 
power, 
Protect thy fair Stars and the shores of 
their blooming. 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 15 

Shall tlie patriot's worth 
Shine immortal on earth? 
And did Seventy-six to our freedom 
give birth ? 

Once oppression, crushed out, human bond- 
age and wrong — 

Oh ! the graves of our sires shall break 
forth into song. 

Shall our country, illumined by Liberty's 
light. 
With its glad ring of Union from sum- 
mit and valley. 
Submit to a traitor-invasion, and write 
Its own infamy ? Oh ! for the brave 
word of rally ! 
Sons of Seventy-six race. 
Your starred banner embrace ; 
On the proud hills of freedom your 
signal lights place ! 
Were oppression crushed out, human bond- 
age and wrong — 
Oh I the graves of our sires would break 
forth into song. 



16 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

All ! have we the blood of the brave in 
our veins ? 
With the world's multitudinous eyes 
fastened on us, 
Shall our Union be broken ? our children 
in chains ? 
Shall the curse and the brand of the 
slave be upon us ? 
No ! tyranny's wrath 
Shall be swept from our path — 
Victorious in battle, or glorious in 
death ! 
And oppression crushed out, human bond- 
age and wrong — 
Oh ! the graves of our sires shall break 
forth into song. 

In war's front of danger, how hallowed the 
Stars 
And Stripes of our country, triumphantly 
waving ! 
How honored, illustrious, and noble the 
scars. 
Received in its cause, while the battle- 
tide braving ! 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 17 

United in love, 
As the star-hosts above, 
Would its States their affianced fidel- 
ity prove. 

Were oppression crushed out, human bond- 
age and wrong — 

Oh ! the graves of our sires would break 
forth into song. 

From work-shop and home, the mechanic 
upsprings ; 
From his plow and his labor, the farmer 
is breaking ; 
From the crests of the mountains, the bat- 
tle-shout rings ; 
In our Union's defence, all the brave 
are awaking ! 
When the war's last command 
Shall our heroes disband, 
Columbia again shall be called "happy 
Land !" 
With oppression crushed out, human bond- 
age and wrong — 
Oh ! the graves of our sires shall break 
forth into song. 



18 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

NO TRUCE WITH TRAITORS. 

For the flowery and the vast domains 

That our Native Land enshrines, 
►Shall the coward usurper forge his chains, 

And mature his foul designs ? 
Shall he rend our Union, arm and let loose 

His rufl&ans and myrmidons ? 
Yet talk of an ignominious truce 

With cursed traitors, shall our sons ? 
No truce with traitors — no I 

No truce with traitors vile — 
Till their arms they drop, 
Their villainy stop, 

And cease to fraud and guile. 

Canst thou, Union-Statesman, see the Flag 

Of thy Country's Stars torn down — 
Trailed, trampled in dust, whilst the hate- 
ful rag 

Of secession meets thy frown ? 
Canst thou see the palmetto serpent-sheet 

In place of the Stripes and Stars ? 
And with honest rage does thy bosom beat 

In view of thy country's scars ? 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 19 

No truce with traitors — no ! 

No truce with traitors vile — 
Till their arms they drop, 
Their villainy stop, 

And cease to fraud and guile. 

Steal along Potomac's shore, and gaze 

On its moon-and-starrkissed waves — 
See the camp-fires of secession blaze, 

And think of thy country's graves ! 
Oh ! her martyred sons, her widowed ones. 

Her orphans canst thou behold r* 
And in the name of her Washingtons, 
Canst thou truce with traitors hold ? 
No truce with traitors — no ! 

No truce with traitors vile — 
Till their arms they drop. 
Their villainy stop. 

And cease to fraud and guile. 

A retrospect of thy country's past, 
And its glory canst thou take ? 

And turn away, with a heart aghast, 
From the wretches who would break 



20 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

The Union, hallowed by Washington ! 

Who would wantonly destroy 
The fairest Government under the sun — 
Humanity's hope and joy ^ 
No truce with traitors — no ! 

No truce with traitors vile — 
Till their arms they drop, 
Their villainy stop, 

And cease to fraud and guile. 

Did our patriot-sires their heart's blood shed 

As free as the sun his rays, 
That we might have a goodly land out- 
spread — 
The blessing of future days ? 
On the glorious battle-field, in death 

Did our Fathers kiss the sod. 
That the blight of slavery's mildew breath 
Might not rest on the image of God ? 
No truce with traitors — no ! 

No truce with traitors vile — 
Till their arms they drop, 
Their villainy stop, 

And cease to fraud and guile. 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 21 

With our noble Constitution and Laws, 

Our freedom and spotless fame ; 
With universal suffrage — what cause 

For disloj^alty, treason, shame ? 
Rebellion — the shedding of hero-blood — 

The martyrdom of the brave ! 
The sundering of union and brotherhood — 
Ah ! is it, the free to enslave ? 
No truce with traitors — no ! 

No truce with traitors vile — 
Till their arms they drop, 
Their villainy stop. 

And cease to fraud and guile. 

Ay, let us write on our Banners plain- 
No truce to the dastard knaves, 

Who would o'er our country's ruins reign, 
And plant a kingdom of slaves ! 

No truce, no truce with the traitors 
vile — 
No truce with Confederate scorn ; 

The infamous hosts, in mad defile, 
Who to end our land are sworn ! 



22 STAR-SrANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

No truce with traitors — no ! 

No truce with traitors vile — 
Till their arms they drop, 
Their villainy stop, 

And cease to fraud and guile. 



THE UNION FOREVER! 

Freedom, humanity, civilization ; 

Christian enlightenment, every day's sun, 
Progress, development, heart-inspiration, 
Plead that our glorious country be " one !" 

One, in the right of choice — 

One, in its People's voice — 
One, in its Star-Spangled Banner unfurled I 

One, in its Union vast — 

One, in its mighty past — 
One, in its freedom and light to the world ! 

" Union and Liberty, now and forever. 
One and inseparable,'' * — words of the 
brave ; 

*- Webster. 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 23 

This be our national motto ! oh, never, 
Without its love, may our Starry Flag 
wave ! 
Popular Government — 
Best under Heaven lent 
^lan, his blest race, with protection to crown ; 
This, we alone should live, 
Millions unborn to give. 
To our posterity, handing it down I 

Patriotism, with smiles of devotion. 

Sunning humanity — liberty's brow! 
Of the true heart, the sublimest emotion — 
Instinct — affectionate impulse, art thou? 
Or, something more divine ? 
Ah ! thy illumined shrine. 
Noble Columbia's breast, canst thou see 
Rent, into fragments torn, 
Hostile to Union-born 
Suffrage, the nurse of the brave and the 
free! 

Who would not cry out — our country be- 
holding — 
" Is not our dear land the marvel of 
earth V 



24 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Ah I shall the same age, that hailed its un- 
folding 
Yastness and greatness, and hallowed its 
birth, 
Witness its overthrow ? 
Never ! no — never, though 
Ileart-blood and life-blood may fail in our 
veins ! 
Never shall foreign guile, 
Mock at our weakness, while 
Craped is our Banner, our Eagle in chains. 

Viewed in its physical charms, separation 
For our triumphant land is not decreed I 
Shall we, with craven and mean recanta- 
tion 
Of Freedom's holy and popular creed, 
Where our sires for it stood. 
Baptize with fire and blood ? 
With oaths, in Heaven bound, our country 
to shield, 
Build up a cotton throne — 
Slavery, the " corner stone !" 
Till our shame, weakness, and bondage, are 
Healed ! 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 25 

Freedom's our National basis — communion 
Light of our homes — Independence, our 
dower ! 
Ever}' true greatness, we owe to our Union, 
Name of America, prestige of power ! 
With thy heroic birth, 
Yalor and patriot-worth, 
Star-Spangled Banner of Freedom un- 
furled ! 
Virtue, intelligence, 
Ever be thy defence — 
Glory of Liberty ! joy of the world ! 



OUR STARRY BANNER. 

Our Starry Banner, may it wave 

O'er every land and shore, 
The ensign of the free and brave, 

That millions shall adore ! 
The breaking in of Heaven's own light 
Upon our land, is not more bright, 

Its freedom mantling o'er — 
Than victory in its homes, where toil 
Adds second sunshine to the soil I 
3 



26 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Commerce, with all its busy marts, 
The work-shop, with its trades 

And patient toils, strong hands and 
hearts — 
The Spirit that pervades 

Our land, and tells us we are free — 

Exhaustless ingenuity, 

And learning's classic shades, — 

In Union wed, all love to name 

The starry Banner of our fame ! 

The stalwart farmer, hurrying by 

To join his daily task. 
When morning lights with blue the sky, 

Loves in its stars to bask ! 
And when the evening shadows come, 
The weary plowman, plodding home. 

With love that knows no mask, 
Stops with a loyal heart of bliss, 
His country's Stars and Stripes to kiss I 

Could Eden, with her nightingale 
And moonhght walks of love, 

Excel the smiling homes, that hail 
The sheet with stars inwove ? 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 27 

'J'he exiles, from oppression's land — 
Our countrymen, on foreign strand — 

The Flag, that floats above 
The land of freedom, star imbued, 
Bless with a heart-felt gratitude 1 

The honor of our Native State, 

And of our Country dear, 
Should fire the free, and actuate 

The brave that know no fear ! 
Peace has its dulcet, piping times, 
When manliness is lost in rhymes. 

Which please the maiden ear ; 
But chafe our Starry Banner's pride — 
In war, our patriotism's tried ! 

Let us our blood, in Freedom's strife, 

For Liberty outpour ! 
Much as we love our homes and life, 

We love our country more ! 
And our fidelity to thee, 
0, Starry Banner of the free ! 

We'll prove till life is o'er ; 
And thou shalt shed — long mayst thou 

wave — 
Undying lustre o'er the brave ! 



28 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

THE PATRIOT'S SACRIFICE. 

What is the patriot's sacrifice ? 

His country is the " pearl of price/' 

Of infinite, of golden worth ! 

The land — the dear land of his birth, 

Is written on his manly heart, 

And tears, and smiles of freedom start, 

When song or eloquence makes grand, 

The triumphs of his own loved land ! 

Oh ! life is sweet, but, who to live. 
Would Freedom or his country give ? 
Forfeit the noble patriot's name. 
For an inglorious life of shame ? 
My country — oh ! for thee and thine, 
Glad sacrifice of life be mine ! 
For thee to live — to die for thee, 
Is rapturous immortality ! 

Gay as to fancy life's young spring, 
May be the charms this youth may bring 
Sweet sunshine, with no cloud above 
To mar the firmament of love ! 
As pure and true as love's own bliss. 
May be the wooing smile and kiss, — 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 29 

From these, and more — yet, would I fly, 
Land of my birth, for thee to die ! 

The noonday glory of the skies, 
May burn in manhood's fervid eyes, 
The playing of the meadow-stream, 
May laugh in every moonlight dream ; 
Friends, kindred, and a mother's tears — 
The sisters — mates of early years, 
With grief, may crowd around me — nay, 
My country calls, I cannot stay ! 

What is the patriot's sacrifice ? 
His country is the hallowed price, 
Worth more than life, worth more than all, 
Earth can, her glittering treasures call! 
The cottage-home — wife, children, love. 
May the strong heart's affection prove — 
My country — oh ! if it must be. 
Fain would I die, for thee ! for thee ! 



ON TO THE CHARGE! 



On to the charge ! bold volunteers- 
On, patriot-soldiers, on ! 



30 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

One glorious charge — ^your country's cheers 

Shall tell the battle won ! 
On, manly hearts, the Stripes and Stars 

Again shall float on high ! 
The scars you wear, are Freedom's scars — 

How sweet for her to die ! 

On to the charge ! hosts of the brave, 

United in renown ! 
Go, war your native land to save, 

Go, tramp the traitor down ! 
God give you mind and hardihood, 

And nerve your valorous powers ; 
The purchase of our father s blood, 

This Union, still is ours ! 

On, on to victory ! hail the shout — 

The long, the loud " Huzza I" 
Which tells the panic and the rout 

That mark the foeman's way ! 
On, gallant men ! one brilliant charge. 

The victory shall complete ! 
Now freemen, let your hearts beat "large," 

Wave, wave the heaven-starred sheet I 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 31 

On to the sanguine charge — for all 

That's sacred, woo the fight ! 
8oon shall your country's traitors fall 

Before the cause of Right I 
The starry pennant wave, huzza ! 

Press to the charge once more ! 
Your gallantry has won the day — 

The battle cry is o'er ! 



THE NAME OF WASHINGTON. 

O, LAND of Washington, to thee 

Freedom's divinest charms belong ; 
Then, mays't thou, ever blooming be, 

The land of fancy, truth, and song ! 
One demonstration, such as thine, 
When in thy councils most benign, 
Thy Independence had its birth, 
May give thy glory to the earth ! 

Arch-union of the patriot-world ! 

Where thy example's felt or known- 
Thy Banner, with its Stars unfurled, 

Shall tyrant-power be overthrown ? 



32 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Thy jSowery summits, sloping high, 
Like temples of the golden sky, 
Thy forests, vales — thy sires, the free. 
Did consecrate to Liberty ! 

And shall thy sons, the free, forget, 

"While history's monitorial page, 
Keraiuds them of the grateful debt 

They owe those sires — the heritage 
Of Freedom, which is theirs to guard ? 
Shall noble statesmen, happy bard, 
In eloquence and song, set forth 
Thy Union-greatness, patriot-worth ? 

What triumph, glory, valor fame. 
Under our Eagle's outspread wings. 

In Washington's great, hallowed name. 
Each sun upon thy Banner brings! 

With Liberty and Union, thou 

Hast every blessing on thy brow ! 

And Washington's great name, to crown 

Thy independence and renown ! 

Science, and letters, and fine arts, 

Their proudest triumphs have achieved. 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 33 

Enduring laurels gained, true hearts 
Of song, have wreaths from thee re- 
ceived ; 
Progress, development, and light, 
And every element of might, 
Are thine, but what all names of fame, 
Without thy Washington's great name ? 

Beneath the circuit of the sun, 

What land, so fair and vast as thine. 
In which, the name of Washington 

Is cherished, reverenced as divine ? 
(3h ! in that name, at home, abroad, 
Well may appeal to man and God, 
Thy Union, Freedom, Power, and Worth — 
Our Government — the best on earth ! 

Ah ! how the world would blush with 
shame. 

If thou, with such a radiant past. 
With Washington and Freedom's name, 

Shouldst recreant to thy trust — at last — 
Forgetful of thy patriot graves, 
Sink down into a land of slaves ! 
No, fair Arch-union of the free, 
A nobler future smiles for thee ! 



34 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

ELLSWORTH'S SHROUD. 

" Once, when the ivory moon shone through 

The hazy, mellowing sky, 
Two Indian lovers, who delight, 
Sought in a fragile, light canoe, 

Where Erie's* waters lie. 
Took of each other's eyes, adieu ! 
The evil Genii of the night, 
Had spread their shadows o'er the lake, 
And e >c'-that barque the shore could make, 

Those lovers knelt to die ! 
But she, the Sachem's black-eyed daughter, 
Her dark eyes turning from the water, 
Where death, her lover lowly laid, 
E;4if. joining his rapt spirit, prayed— 
The moon might lend a fleecy cloud, 
To be for their true love, a shroud ! 

" Were I as fanciful as yore, 

Had nought to do, but idly dream, 

* The name " Erie" is of Indian origin, and sig- 
nifies mad — the " Mad Lake." Its waters, on ac- 
count of their shallowness being easily disturbed, 
it is subject to frequent disasters and storms. 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 35 

Oh I I would ask of Heaven no more, 
My plighted love ! my heart's supreme ! 

If mine, so sad a fate should be 

As, separated far from thee, 

And it should be my lot to die, 

Without the comfort of thine eye. 

Or, voice of sweetness — I would pray, 

The lily-moon of Eden's night 

Might lend a shroud of snowy white, 
And in love-kisses wrap my clay ! 

But called upon the battle plain. 

To struggle in the cause of Right, 

To mingle in the holy fight, 

I now have little time to play 

With fancy or with tears ! Away 

From thee, too, I must rush ! 

" A pain, 



A death-like pain, it is to part 

From thee, thou sweet one of my heart ! 

Yet should I ne'er return again. 
The flcig that waved in sunny light 

When peace smiled on our happy land, 



36 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

In war's dire conflict, waving bright — 

Victorious, starred, triumphant, grand ! 
Shall be thy lover's radiant shroud I 
And thou — I know, thou wilt be proud, 
That he, adorned with Freedom's soars, 
Bled for his country's glorious Stars !" 

He seeks the war with young desire, 

Where, in the blaze of morning sky, 
Bathing his plumes in clouds of fire, 

Columbia's Eagle soars on high ! 
With courage, fierce and unappalled. 
Which might be " fatal rashness " called, 
In midst of foes, most dire in hate — 

Most cowardly in wily fear — 
Drags down the scandalous serpent rag, 
Raised by secession for a flag — 

His country's Stars and Stripes to rear ! 
Alas ! it is his hour of fate ; 

But, oh ! not unavenged he dies ! 
His shroud, bedewed with tears of love, 
The Banner, starred like Heaven above ! 
His country's flag, inviolate ! 

Wrapt in its blessed folds, he lies ! 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 37 

THE CONTRAST. 

What welcome enchantments ! Oh, who 
would not hail, 

The bloom-mantled summit, the green- 
herbaged vale, 

With charms of delectable beauty and light, 

Like relics of Eden, still smiling and 
bright ; 

The gushing of fountains, the laughing of 
bowers. 

The music of birds and the magic of flow- 
ers? 

Oh ! childhood, itself, is not sweeter, nor 
youth, 

More lively, in fancy, cherubic, in truth, 

Than the raptures, which live in the radi- 
ance of morn, 

When sunbeams the eloquent, green earth 
adorn ! 

There's something so trancing, so happy 
and gay, 

In all that gives innocent mirth to the day! 



38 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

The skies, the blue skies drop their gar- : 

lands below, 

And all things, made golden, with ecstasy ] 

glow ! j 

The herd-dotted country, with hamlet and ' 

cot, ' 

Tts bloom of free labor — contentment of j 

lot, j 

And river, and forest, present to the view, j 

A picturesque loveliness, blissful and true ! i 

j 

But while, with felicitous gaze, we behold, ' 

All nature, rejoicing in blossoms of gold, 

And scenes of mild peace, with serenity : 

fraught, \ 

Call up our warm depth of glad feeling ] 

and thought ; ' 

TIow sad to reflect, while our hearts thus ; 

expand, 

On the sorrow and horror of war in our ' 

land 1 \ 

Ah ! how sick'ning to gaze on the blood- \ 

mingled stream, 
Where bayonets opposing, defiantly gleam ! 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 39 

vSee, the down-trodden thousands, and wit- 
ness the jar 

In the desolate pathway of merciless war ! 

To peace, what a contrast ! How brutal, 
defiled, 

Is war, with its terrors, and agonies wild ! 

But a cause and a conscience may be in 
the strife, 

For Freedom's more sacred, more hallowed 
than life ! 

Has more than the sunshine to bless and 
make grand, 

The love-lighted homes of our star-ban- 
nered land ! 

With the Grovernment ours, which our 
forefathers gave, 

Whose sovereignty dwells in the hearts of 
the brave ! 

Shall inhuman humanity, boasting it^ 

slaves, 
Kear the palmetto flag where the Starry 

Sheet waves ? 



40 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Though a gloom-sky of death o'er the bat- 
tle-plain lowers, 

In dying for Freedom, the victory's ours ! 

Our Union is worth, with the hearts it 
connects, 

The lives of the millions, its Banner pro- 
tects ! 

! rally, my countrymen, rally around, 
Our dear Union Land, till its freedom be 

crowned ! 
Though peace were most welcome — yet, 

dearer, by far, 
Are Freedom and Union, without which, 

no star 
Of our country, is worth the blest unction 

of prayer 
For peace, that sweet Liberty only can 

wear ! 

Laud of science and valor ! thy jewels di- 
vine, 

Undimmed, through all ages, with lustre 
shall shine ; 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 41 

But tliy glory or future, be what it may be, 
Thou art great and exalted, because thou 

art free 1 
And the past of thy fame shall be sacred 

and pure, 
While the sun, and the the moon, and the 

stars shall endure ! 

Though with tears may be numbered thy 

dead in the strife, 
Lo ! Freedom's brow, radiant with angelic 

life! 
Soon shall end the " war-contrast with 

peace," we portray. 
And oppression's vile hearts shall be ashes 

that day ! 
But thy brave shall to thee their fidelity 

prove, 
Heart, cemented to heart, in a Union of 

love! 



MOUNT VERNON. 

First in peace, in war, in glory- 
First forever, in the hearts 
4 



42 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Of his countrymen — the story 
That his country's fame imparts ! 

Story of her independence, 
By his prudent valor won — 

First in greatness and transcendence, 
Grlorious, matchless Washington ! 

Union — strength, support and beauty 

Of our Government, benign ! 
To sustain thee, is the duty 

Of thy sons, whose hearts are thine ! 
Thou hast Washington's last blessing ! 

And with thy free, just, and brave, 
His illustrious name possessing ! 

Shalt thou not revere his grave ? 

Have Columbia's patriot daughters 

Purchased green Mount Vernon's breast, 
With its sacred shade and waters — 

Washington's great place of rest ! 
That no foe might violate it, 

Or deface, with cruel shame ? 
And shall traitors desecrate it, 

And its hallowed precincts claim ? 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 43 

What ! the venerated ashes 

Of our country's Sire, consign 
To the rebel flag, that flashes 

Treason on Potomac's line ! 
Break Mount Vernon's consecration ! 

8corn, above its dust aver ! 
Shrine and Mecca of a nation — 

Washington's blest sepulchre ! 

What ! to perjurers and defilers, 

Grive the tomb of Washington ! 
Traitors, insolent revilers 

Of the land his valor won! 
Dare they hold with thee communion, 

Dust immortal and revered ! 
Yet destroy the noble Union, 

So to Washington endeared ? 

Sons of sires, the Revolution 
Sanctified in Freedom's cause 1 

Champions of our Constitution, 
Union, Liberty, and Laws ! 

Heroes of true coronation ! 
War-stars of first magnitude ! 



4-1: STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Oh from traitor-desecration, 

Save Mount Vernon b}^ your blood ! 

Brave defenders of our glorious 

Union — heroes of true mould ! 
Strong, invincible, victorious — 

Can you, that one spot, behold. 
Where your Country's Sire reposes ! 

And unite not, all as one, 
For our land of stars and roses — 

Tomb and home of Washington ? 



THE ASHES OF THE BRAVE. 

When God a voice to Justice gave. 

Assigning Truth her heavenly part, 
He made the ashes of the brave, 

To speak to every living lieart ! 
Wherever Freedom's sun illumes 

G-reen continent, or isles of sea, 
A life-voice from her patriot-tombs, 

With eloquence inspires the free ! 

Forever be revered the dust 

Of those who purchased by their blood. 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 45 

Our goodly heritage and trust, 

Whose memories warm our gratitude ! 

Wherever Freedom's banner waves, 
O'er home and altar, hearth and land, 

The language of her martyr-graves, 
Her faithful children understand ! 

Oh ! hallowed be the lowly urns, 

And sepulchres which hold the dead ! 
For whom a nation silent mourns, 

And funeral tears sublime are shed ! 
Earth, guard the sacred ashes lent 

Thy peaceful breast — by noble deeds ! 
The patriot's dust, no monument 

Or pride of thy affection needs ! 

What music comes up from the sod, 

Where in the wild, with prayer and 
psalm, 
The Pilgrim Fathers worshipped God, 

And kept the Sabbath's holy calm ! 
Our Revolutionary sires — 

Their mounds repose on many a hill: — 
In many a vale, — the glorious fires, 

That waked their ashes, warm them still ! 



46 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

OUR COUNTRY MUST BE SAVED. 

" I WOULD live — oh ! forever, my beauti- 
ful one, 

On the side of the world that is turned to 
the sun ! 

Thy warm love in my heart — thy sweet 
smiles in my dreams — 

A life like the sunlight, all golden with 
beams ! 

" Like the exquisite rainbow, ecstatic and 
bright, 

Each day of my being would fade in thy 
light ; 

And all blessedness earthly, all rapture di- 
vine, 

With my soul-adored Mary, would surely 
be mine ! 

" But much as I love thy dear image — our 

home, 
From which, for earth's wealth, I would 

sigh not to roam, 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 47 

And much as I real felicity pi*ize, 

My poor bleeding country has still stronger 

ties ! 

" Oh ! wilt thou not smile on thy William 

— bestow 
A blessing, a kiss of adieu ; — bid him, go, 
The first in brave arms for our Union to 

stand. 
In defence of our hallowed and free Native 

Land?" 

With the eloquent love-depth of woman's 

blue eyes, 
His blooming and innocent Mary replies — 
" Oh, go, dearest William ! your country 

defend ! 
Your life — aye, and all, we to God can 

commend \" 

For our country's defence, Constitution 

and Laws — 
Its Government — Union — the right of our 

cause ! 



48 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. | 

He went, where the banner of Star-Span- 
gled fame 

Waves its glory, to battle, in Liberty's i 
name ! \ 

For Union, and Freedom, and Country, to '• 

wield I 

The sword that his grandsire made bare in \ 

the field, I 

When, old Seventy-Six, on its Fourth of \ 

July, : 

Pealed our grand Independence in joy to i 

the sky ! ! 

God shield him and bless him, rebellion 

put down ! I 

Heturn him, his loved one and children to j 

crown ! i 

God save our true country, united, un cleft ! 

Bless its faithful defenders — the homes I 

they have left ! ! 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 49 

THE SOLDIER LOVER. 

She gazed into his face with smiles, 

Unconscious of their fascination, 
The spirit that his thought beguiles, 

No longer calms his meditation : 
His soul is roused, by passion deep — 

Love, that its hallowed bliss entrances ; 
His heart could not the secret keep. 

While he returned her virgin glances ! 

The secret of his love's revealed, 

He loved her more than power that's 
human, 
The future of his life is sealed. 

Henceforth to be wrapt up with woman ! 
He loved her for her form and mind. 

He loved her for her smiles and beauty, 
Her innocence and charms refined, 

And love, full soon, becomes a duty ! 

He kissed her hand, he kissed her brow, 
He kissed her cheek, he kissed her 
roses ! 



50 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

He clasped her, with the holiest vow 
That love upon the heart imposes ! 

It was no whispered moon-light-love — 
It was a love, clear and outspoken ; 

Yet witness were the stars above, 
Its pledge was never to be broken ! 

The rolling sounds of rebel strife 

Came from the South — his sword, he 
girded, 
And rushed to meet, fearless of life, 

The traitors 'gainst his country herded ; 
But camp, nor drill, nor battle-plain. 

Nor picket-guard, nor midnight rover, 
Could not erase from his wild brain. 

The dreams that tell the frantic lover ! 



RISE, FREEMEN, IN YOUR MIGHT. 

Hark ! hear ye not the signal-gun ? 
The battle-shout — the victory won ? 
Have treason and disunion's shame. 
Been put down, in Columbia's name ? 
Has armed rebellion forced its way ? 
Or Union, Freedom won the day? 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 51 

Rise, freemen, in your might to stand, 
Armed to defend your hallowed land ! 
Would ye see where the cannon jars, 
The victory of the " Stripes and Stars V 
Ye must be moved with courage — hear 
Your country call ! your country cheer ! 

Oh ! in its many a crimsoned tale. 
Dark history itself would fail, 
To tell the horror and disgust, 
Which loathe his mean and coward-dust, 
Who, for cursed bribe of power or gold, 
His country's priceless freedom sold I 

Ages shall hold in bitter scorn. 
The wretch, so ignominious born, 
And vilely reared, as to forget. 
For self, his country, — sadder yet. 
His memory, who supinely stands. 
And seals her death with folded hands ! 

Our country's rocks and mountains cry — 
" Strike, strike for Liberty or die V 
Mount Vernon, rescued from decay, 
Pleads for our arms and war-array ! 



52 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Almighty God ! Oh, nerve the brave, 
With heart and might, our land to save ! 



THE BANNER OF THE SUN. ; 

"While our beautiful Flag, is the Banner j 

of Stars, \ 

Oh ! is it not, also, the Banner of Hea- 

ven ? , . , . 

The eloquent sun, on ' , HXta m, ^ 

Writes the glory, which God to its radi- 
ance has given ! ; 

There is not a spot, happy sunbeams il- \ 

lume — j 

There is not a shore, where the day i 

shines in bliss — \ 

There is not a realm, where the sun creates 

bloom — j 

That our free Flag has not the whole j 

world's sunny kiss I ] 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 53 

Hail, ensign of peace and my country ! 
tliou art 
The Banner of Freedom, of Truth, and 
the Sun ! 
As well as the Stars, — 0, dear Flag of my 
heart ! 
Beneath thee, what triumphs of light 
may be won ! 

Love, Justice, and Mercy, thy gorgeousness 
frame ; 
Enlightenment, Science, and Know- 
ledge, that light 
The world with warm smiles — in pledged 
tenderness flame, 
On the Standard of Liberty, Union, and 
Bight ! 

Toil, day-circled toil, laves in gladness his 
wings. 
Where Columbia's Pennant of victory 
waves ! 
Each farmer, mechanic, each working man 
sings, 
Each seaman whose courage the ocean- 
tide braves ! 



54 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. | 

Yes, Star-Spangled Banner ! thou, too, of | 
the sun 
Art the semblance, — what glory and ' 
freedom belong 
To theei from day's jubilant firmament j 
won — 
Oh ! thou art the banner of sunshine \ 
and song! j 

All that's bright and magnificent, sacred ■ 

and true, ' 

All that's brave and magnanimous, clas- j 

sic, sublime, i 

Has in thy felicitous red, white, and blue, i 

Poetic existence — the sun-birth of time I j 

Famed Flag of my country ! in hallowed- \ 
ness, shine, ,' 

In peace, noble peace, thou art sweetly j 
endeared ! 
To patriotism, a symbol divine — 

In war, ever holy, and justly revered ! 
From the heaven-kissing hills to the hea- 
ven-kissed vales. 
Shall Columbia's freedom-born millions 
defend, 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 55 

Against every traitor-reared foe that as- 
sails — 
Thj^ glory, while shouts to the glad skies 
ascend ! 

Education, illumined mind, culture refined ; 
Humanity's destiny, freedom and power, 
Redemption and glory — the hopes of man- 
kind — 
Where thou wavest, the footsteps of en- 
terprise flower ! 

Firm Patriotism, Integrity, "Worth — 
Sweet poesy's magic — the Eden of love, 

And eloquence of sublime grandeur and 
birth, 
Are all, in thy colors, inspiringly wove ! 

True talent and genius, invention and art, 
Philantropy, Bi"otherhood-Union, made 
one, 
Claim one Banner of Stars — one ^ir Flag 
of the heart — 
And hail thee, the Banner of truth and 
the sun ! 



56 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

HAIL COLUMBIA ! 
JIail! Columbia! Laud of light! 
Beautiful, romantic, bright ; 
i\lore enchanting and sublime 
Than the glorious olden time ; 
(lemmed with fairer flowers of gold 
Than the classic realms of old ; 
Still thy lays and smiles impart — 
( )h ! thou hast the freeman's heart ! 

Hail ! thou Union of the brave ! 
Still thy Starry Banner wave, 
Proud in triumph of the day, 
Which in Heaven's divine array, 
(lave thy independence birth ! 
Mayst thou shine and honor earth, 
Jjong as are revered by men, 
l^ranklin, Washington, and Penn ! 

Long as from thy rivers, lakes, 
Song in giant gladness breaks — 
Long a^thy Niagara's heard, 
Or thy realms two oceans gird ; 
While thou hast old Plymouth rock, 
Or one bard of Pilgrim-stock, 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 57 

While thy western waters bound, 
Be thy bosom, hallowed ground ! 

In thy mighty forests dwell 
Eloquence and music's spell ! 
Plumed with glory like the sun, 
Are thy wilds from darkness won ! 
May the wealth of mind invest 
Every summit of thy breast — 
Labor in thy valleys bloom, 
And thy harvest fields illume ! 

Grandeur, majesty, and power. 
In thy streams and mountains tower I 
All thy scenery is vast — 
God thy destiny hath cast ! 
Oh ! be thou, the noble land, 
Where the minstrel's hopes expand. 
And the Muses' happy reign 
Shall to heights of joy attain ! 

With thy Flag of Stars unfurled — 
Hope and Freedom to the world ! 
Radiant as the sky above, 
With thy homes of joy and love — 
5 



58 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Hail ! thou Union of the free ! 
May thy millions cherish thee ! 
Heaven thy sunny charms increase — 
Health be to thy smiling peace ! 

Patriotism's truth and shrine, 
Liberty and worth are thine ; 
Meek religion guards the shores, 
Where thy lofty eagle soars ! 
But should war or treason lower, 
All thy sons would rise in power — 
Wave thy Starry Flag on high, 
And rejoice for thee to die ! 



THE SWORD WITH GOD'S BLESSING. 

God of our father s ! supremely adored. 
Our Refuge, and Fortress, and Rock, 
and strong Tower ! 
With tears, we thy blessing invoke on the 
sword. 
Which we wield in defence of our coun- 
try this hour ! 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 59 

Blot out all our national sins, gracious 
Lord, 
And let fall on our armies, thy conquer- 
ing power ! 
Endue us with bravery, wisdom, and 

might, 
To stand for sweet Liberty, Union, and 
Right ! 

A sky beaming rapture, a day shedding 
peace, 
To our country thou long hast imparted 
in love ; 
But should merciless war rock our hills, 
shall we cease 
To think, act, and trust, in our Father 
above ? 
In our leaders and rulers, thy Spirit in- 
crease. 
And wise, in thy fear, may our govern- 
ors prove ! 
The righteousness give us, which firmly 

possessed, 
Exalteth a nation, and maketh it blest I 



60 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

The land of our heart-love — our dear Na- 
tive land ! 
Sublime as the cloud-propping moun- 
tains enthroned ; 
This Union, which should every free heart 
expand — 
Alas! can it be hy its children disowned? 
Oh wipe out the evil of bondage ! the 
brand 
Of Confederate treason and guilt un- 
atoned — 
Rebellion, disunion, secession eiFace ! 
The palmetto serpent-flag, born for dis- 



Thou God of our patriot-worship — thou 
God 
Of our patriot-sires ! with omnipotence 
shield, 
This Union — the cost of our forefathers' 
blood — 
This Union, with Washington's blessing, 
life-sealed ! 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 61 j 

Oh ! the soul, which in Seventy-six warmed 
the good, 
Impart to the brave, who their bosoms 
have steeled, 
In defence of this Union — earth's glory 

and joy — 1 

Which cowardly traitors are sworn to de- j 

stroy ! I 

Alas ! for the treason, disloyalty, shame, 
That on part of our nation have villainy 
cast ! 
But the Stars on our Banner unsullied ; 
shall flame. 
If thou be our strength as in years that 
are past ! 
Our Flag has no stain on its star-spangled 
fame ! 
Hallelujahs ascend where it floats from J 
the mast ! 
Bless our good Constitution, our Freedom I 
and Laws — | 

With peace — with prosperity, crown thou 
our cause ! ! 



62 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

OUR PEERLESS REPUBLIC. 

Like a paradise of roses, 

Like Heaven's starred or sunny dome, 
Is the land where peace reposes — 

Toil and virtue find a home ! 

Has the cottage-home of meekness 
Joy upon Columbia's breast? 

It is not, a sign of weakness, 
When we love our country best ' 

! our Union-Land, above thee 
There is not a land on earth ! 

For thy equal laws we love thee — 
Popular Government and worth ! 

Scenes of eloquence and beauty 
Meet the eye on every hand ; 

Worth, intelligence, and duty, 
Grace thy freedom, happy land ! 

Victory crown thy sons, when braving 

Danger in defence of thee, 
Where thy Starry Banner's waving 

O'er the noble, brave, and free ! 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 63 

See our country all around us 
Teemij3g with the gifts of God ! 

Popular Government has crowned us, 
With renown, at home, abroad ! 

Land of song and adoration ! 

May the deeds that hallow thee, 
All in blest commemoration 

Of thy Independence be ! 

Patriotism's in the story 

Of thy Union and renown ! 
Popular Government, thy glory — 

Well may Stars thy Banner crown ! 



THE LAND OF MY HEART. 

Hail ! Land of Franklin and Washington I 
Thy happiness, in the gorgeous sun, 
Is miniatured like the smiling of May — 
Thy liberty shines in the golden day : 
Long may thy Starred Banner wave o'er 

thee. 
And thou be the home of the brave and 

free ! 



64 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Beautiful, glorious laud of my heart ! 
The charms and blessings thou canst im- 
part, 
In song, with thy triumphs, shall be en- 
shrined, 
A sacred mission's to thee assigned, 
To give thy independence, and birth 
Of freedom and knowledge to the earth ! 

Land of poesy ! land of romance ! 
On thee — Oh, 'tis ecstasy to glance! 
Thy scenery's magic, thy lakes and founts — 
Thy mighty rivers — majestic mounts — 
Accord with thy realms, extended wide 
From ocean to ocean in brilliant pride ! 

Land of eloquence ! land of the West ! 
Toil, patriotism, true worth, guard thy 

breast ! 
Land of piety, virtue, and truth — 
Bright, hallowed land of my birth, home, 

and youth — 
Like thy Niagara, Union sublime ! 
Be thou, the wonder and anthem of time! 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 65 

LOVE UNDER A WAR CLOUD. 

" I'll think of thee, thou dream of light, 
Of rosy innocence and flowers ! 

Thy love shall keep my memory bright, 
When I am where the war cloud lowers l" 

Thus spake the stalwart, minstrel-youth, 
Then bade adieu her eyes of bliss — 

Rapture, confusion, love, and truth, 
All mingled in their last dear kiss! 

Like lovers sigh their hearts away, 

He sighed, — but joined, with soul of 
pride, 

The hosts of Freedom's bright array, 
And rushed where rolled the battle-tide ! 

A bright — ah ! no, a dark, dark dream, — 
The mountain-fires of Liberty ! 

Blazed up to heaven, a bonfire-stream- 
Grod gave his country, victory ! 

But he, a prisoner, dragged along, 
A mark for traitor-spite and scorn, 



66 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Is dungeoned, with a bleeding throng 
None, none to pity, soothe, or mourn ! 

The music waves of air and light, 

That foulsome dungeon entered not — 

0, God ! it was a loathesome sight, 
For Freemen in those cells to rot ! 

Wounded he with his comrades lies — 
y While blood-pools slant along the floor ; 
God help him, when the morning skies 
Bring his tormentors to the door I 

They taunt him — ah ! the perjured knaves, 
They mock his chains, his wounds, his 
scars — 
They boast their cotton and their slaves. 
And curse the hallowed Stripes and 
Stars ! 

But cruelty, itself, grows kind. 

When long in contact with the brave ; 

The traitor-heart and rebel-mind, 
Way to the prisoners' comfort gave. 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 67 

Their treatment harsh, they did reverse, 
Their bitter hatred, disavowed. 

Consenting, that a prison nurse 

And surgeon might be •.. them allowed. 

One morn, a beauteous stranger came 
To act the nurse's tender part ; 

Oh ! say — oh ! say, what was her name ? 
Who wept and clasped her to his heart? 

How come she there? God heard her 
prayer ? 

Through dangers sped her angel-way, 
His own dear seraph-one ! Oh, rare 

The joy that marked that happy day ! 



THE INAUGURATION.* 

Hail ! Chieftain of my Native State ! 
Thou choice of patriot millions, hail ! 

* This piece is intended to show what a Presi- 
dential Inauguration should be, and has not refe- 
rence to any that has been. 



68 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Born to be great, to rule the great, 

And strike the recreant pale ! 
Thy country's grandeur and defence — 
Heaven smiles on thy pre-eminence ! 
In thee, the People's hearts shall beat, 
And faction die beneath thy feet ! 
VieW may the Union of the Free 
Repose its highest trust in thee ! 
AVell may Columbia from her shrines 

And altars — crowning Freedom's lands 
Attest the wisdom, that assigns 

A nation's glory in thy hands ! 

From green New England's granite hills — 
From Pennsylvania's gushing rills — 
From Empire State — from Monument 
Of Seventy-Six — from Flag besprent 
With Stars of Freedom's natal morn ! 

From where her harp of hallowed strings 
Gives to her Union Lyrics tone ; 

From where her Independence rings ! 
From where its Signers, too, were born, 

And where its Heroes, too, were known, ' 
They call thee, call thee to adorn 

A seat more glorious than a throne ! 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 69 

From where Atlantic billows roar 
To vast Pacific's mountain-sliore ; 
From California's golden breast, 
From sunny South, from luminous West, 
From Mississippi's wilds of song. 

From prairie-land and mountain-crown. 
To where Niagara's giant throng 

Of leaping waters thunder down ! 
Where'er the people's voice has come, 
From rural life and city hum, 
From farmer's home, mechanic's cot, 
From vale and summit — every spot ; 
From Washington's great sepulchre ! 

Civilian of my Native State ! 
A nation calls thee to confer 

On thee her brightest, noblest son. 

The honor, that inviolate. 

Was once conferred on Washington ! 

Oh, may that brow of truth and law, 
Which holds the very world in awe. 
The wreath of Washington, well wear ! 
May Freedom plant her chaplets there, 



70 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

And Peace and Liberty unite, 
In thee to keep forever bright 
The chains that do our Union bind ! 
— I reverence thee, thou great in mind ! 
For thou, by toil, didst win thy way, 
" Self-made," to what thou art to-day ! 



OUR COUNTRY'S DEFENDERS. 

COMPOSED ON THE THREATENED INTERVENTION OF 
EUROPE. 

On, the patriot's heart has its freedom- 
devotions. 
While cherishing bravery, valor, and 
worth ! 
The deepest and grandest of human emo- 
tions, 
Is love for the country which gave us 
our birth ! 
Conviction of duty for war has arrayed us, 
^Twas valor, first won our blest freedom 
and fame ! 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER TOEMS. 71 

Bold soldiers, conviction of duty has made 
us, 
For war-field and danger, strong manli- 
ness claim ! 

While the ranks of the traitor-hosts, 
crushed, fall before us, 
With our country, our Union — the ral- 
lying cry ! 
Shall our Star-Spangled Banner, in tri- 
umph, wave o'er us. 
Adorned with the red, white, and blue 
of the sky ? 
But one object, one thought, our dear 
country engages, 
In its agonized struggle for national life ! 
While long, loud, and awful, the fierce 
battle rages — 
To be freer and purer, when peace ends 
the strife ! 

The contest's for good — let us struggle to 
end it ! 
Few were the brave sires, that our Lib- 
erty gained — 



i 
72 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. ] 

]3ut many are we, who are armed to defend j 

it— ^ j 

The Union, it must be — it shall be main- j 

tained ! '■. 

Let us rise in supremacy, majesty, glory, 

In defence of our country, omnipotent ■ 

stand ! . 

Let us rise, and at once end the dolorous \ 

story I 

Of the infamy, ruin, and wrong, in our ' 

land ! ; 

{ 
To be bondmen, and breathe in submfssion 
to traitors — i 

To perpetuate slavery's darkness, and : 
nurse 
Of rebellion, the horrible, foul instigators, 
Grood God ! but our shame would de- 
serve the world's curse ! 
Let England — all Europe, like England, so 
royal — 
Recognise so degraded a villainous 
power — 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. io 

To slavery, cotton, and knaves, only loyal, 
What ! to royalty, headed by fools, shall 
we cower? 



Let a Rex aristocracy sanction pollutions — 
That once of the poor Negro slave talked 
so good ! 
Shall for a slaveocracy's vile prostitutions, 
Our green hills and valleys be covered 
with blood ? 
No, Columbia's sublime declaration im- 
mortal 
Of Seventy-Six on our Banner shall 
glow I 
In Freedom's defence, we will guard every 
portal. 
And slave-power-reared monarchy crush 
with a blow ! 



While new arts and inventions, our laiid 
shall enlighten, 
Foster genius and. talent — illumining 
mind ; 
6 



74 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

While ages on ages, its glory shall bright- 
en — 
The glory that Freedom bequeaths to 
mankind ; 
The songs, which the bard to his country- 
men tenders, 
The pages, which speak, the historian 
calm — 
Our country's true, brave, and enlightened 
defenders, 
In its Union of hearts, shall forever em- 
balm ! 



THE BULL RUN PANIC. 

AN ODE OF APPEAL AFTER THE REVERSE AT MA- 
NASSAS. 

BoB.N of Freedom, and descended 
From brave, patriot hero-sires, 

Shall our country, be defended, 
When it our defence requires ? 

Shall our land of sunny beauty. 
Treason-rent and traitor-ruled, 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 75 

See its sons forget their duty, 

Toil-renowned and courage-schooled? 

Like a mountain's shade, reposing 

In the dewy calm of Eve, 
Like a meady vale, disclosing 

Charms that Eden might deceive — 
Long its peace has smiled unbroken 

From its loye illumined throne ! 
But when warfe. loud trump has spoken, 

Shall our -s^uorth, our power be known? 

%\ 

Shall the exile, and the stranger, 

And the brave from foreign strand, 
Occupy the front of danger — 

Guardians of our freedom stand ? 
In th^crimson tide of battle, 

Erfn's;Spns pour out their blood ? 
And our^J^ons, like cowards, prattle 

P^ce, and talk of brotherhood? 
'•' •*' 

Truce, with rebels — pekijfr with traitors, 

Who to burn our country rage ! 
Cruel, bloody desecraters 

Of God's goodly heritage ! 



76 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Perjurers, liars, nauseous dealers 
In the flesh and blood of men ! 

— Men-and-women, children-stealers — 
Peace, with slavery's auction-pen ! 

Shall the South impress her masses ? 

Arm the Indian and her slaves ? 
Mask the batteries of Manassas ? 

Welcome us to coward graves ? 
Shall the Bull Run panic teach us. 

Courage should with prudence blend ? 
Or, disasters new impeach us ? 

Shall we more on heaven depend ?* 

Half-a-world our Union covers — 
Huzza for our countr3^'s might ! 

Shall our Eagle proud, that hovers ' 
O'er us, hide his plumes in night ? 

*• 

*" Were we a boy again, and asked, " What is a 
Sabbath day's journey ?" we would answer, "From 
Bull Run to Washington." May we never have to 
record another " panic," preceded by a desecration 
of the " Sabbath." 



STAR-SPAXGLED BANNER POEMS. 77 

Shall our Starry Banner's glorj^ 
In the dust be trailed and torn ? 

Where is Seventy-Six's story ? 
Are we free or coward-born ? 

Nay, Columbia ! thy true heroes, 

Freemen born, thy fame shall save. 
From the cotton slave-power Neroes, 

Who have tried to dig thy grave ! 
And, when the sublime ordeal 

Of thy trial's past all doubt, 
Thy dear freedom shall be real — 

Slavery's curse be blotted out ! 



POWER IN THE PEOPLE. 

Ah ! is there. Fellow Freemen, say 

A royalty in human clay ? 

That kings should wield an iron rod, 

And nations kiss its hated power ; 
Aye, nations that should own but God, 
Crouch, trembling at a monarch's nod, 

Before a nauseous despot cower I 



78 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

I wouldn't give a peppercorn, 

For all the princes ever born, 

However robed, enthroned, or crowned, 

However titled and renowned ! 

If man was formed on earth to rule. 

He was not made to be a "/oo?." 

The greatest curiosity, 

Is a blush on the face of royalty. 
Hiding its animosity 

To plain American loyalty. 
Power in the People, — that's the dread 
Of lords and tyrants, — be it said 
That power should in the people dwell, 
And all the aristocracy-sioell 
Cries ''Mud-sills! Mud-sills T '" TwiU 

not do^^ — 
" Power should be only with the few.^' 

Welcome the exiles to thy breast, 
Columbia, give them homes of rest ! 
Thy Government, so free and blest 
For years, has been a vital test 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 79 

Of power safe in the People's keeping : 

The simultaneous, universal, 
Unanimous, and free upleaping 

Of thy true sons, needs no rehearsal ! 
Now, when thy Government's defence, 
Requires their arms ! Intelligence 
Has taught them, the omnipotence 
Of Freedom, Union, Brotherhood ! 
That they, who would in fire and blood. 
Sink thy green, lovely plains, and nurse 
Of slavery the withering curse ! 
Must from the " People," hide their guile, 
Deeds, principles, and motives vile. 
And hoist a Flag, with traitor-bars — 
Not true Columbia's " Stripes and Stars." 

Land of the free, the brave, and great ! 

Thy noble millions educate, 

x\nd power shall in thy People be, 

A golden light to keep thee free ! 

Thy magnanimity extend 

To Africa's wronged children — blend 

The prudent mind with courage, truth, 

And justice, and thy gifted youth 



80 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Shall have warm cause to bless thy 
name ! 
Absent is no Divinity,* 
If thoughtful prudence present be, 
Where goodness, worth, and courage bloom 
— A Union of delight — from whom 

Thy Union, Freedom, greatness, came ! 



THE CALIBER OF THE MAN. 

" The knot which is hard to untie, 

Is about to be cut by the sword,"t 
And our nation's future, unveiled to the 
eye, 

Shall soon shine forth adored ; 
But let us wisely plan, 

And the victory shall be won ; 
3Iore depends on the caliber of the man, 

Than the caliber of the gun. 

Hail, Union of Washington, hail! 

Thou hast thy McClellan and Scott— 

* A Greek maxim. f Sumner, 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 81 

3Iore sure to thy cause, which can never 
fail, 

Than huge, round, red-hot shot : 
Our land, with those to plan, 

Shall be from vile thraldom won ; 
3Iore depends on the caliber of the man, 

Than the caliber of the gun. 



RALLYING SONG. 

Come, sturdy mechanics, from work-shop 
and village, 
Enroll in defence of your country, ye 
braves ; 
(^ome, resolute farmers — come, leave land 
and tillage, 
Resistless in number, in force like the 
vraves ! 
Homes by the rivers grand, 
Rise for your Native Land — 
Gird on the sword — for the battle stand 
out. 



82 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Rifle and bayonet now, 
Needed as plane and plow, ^ 
^ Call for the yeomen and working men's 
shout ! 

Advance where the Star-Spangled Banner 
is flaming — 
Let tempests of iron be rained on the 
foe! 
The might and the right of our freedom 
proclaiming, 
Till the victory's won, strike ye blow 
upon blow ! 
Prudence and courage blend — 
Home-thrusts and charges send 
Into the traitor-ranks — strike where most 
felt! 
Firm as the mountain height. 
Daring the whirlwind's might — 
King-Cotton-rebels, before you shall melt ! 

The Government-weapons no longer shall 
slumber. 
But flash out on the sky — Oh, awake, 
men, awake ! 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 83 

Rise — shoulder arms! — hurry your files 
into number, 
A bulwark of bosoms the foe cannot 
break ! 
Come from the vale and hill, 
Come from the loom and mill. 
Come from deep forest, from hamlet and 
town. 
Come from the ocean-coast. 
Freedom's great battle-host ! 
Flock ^round your standard — ^rebellion put 
down ! 



Shall the words of the brave or the coward 
be spoken, 
When the war-cannon's shock thunders 
death on the plain ? 
Ah ! talk not of peace when our Union is 
broken — 
Without Union and Liberty, peace would 
be vain ! 
No, come from the nation's heart, 
All of your might impart — 



84 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Arm for your country, — stand strong in 
your place, 
Till her just laws, restored, j 

No longer ask the sword — ' 

Peace smiles immortal in Freedom's em- 
brace ! M 



THE DEATH OF LYON. 

" 80LDIERS, one word — a word to you — 
Stand, stand erect, stainless and true ! 
AVithout reproach, or heat, or fear. 
The charge and shouts of battle hear ! 
Falter in presence of the foe, 
With fear or coward shame ? — ah, no J 
That you can never do, my boys, 
Remember home and household joys ; 
Your sweethearts ! mothers ! sisters, all ! 
And that it is your country's call. 
Which brought you here to stand or fall ! 

Go, make the heart of Freedom glad— 
The part and honor of the brave 
Be yours to act, this day ! Gro wave 

Our Stars, — God bless you, every lad !' 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 85 

With words, like these, his men to fire, 

The gallant, dashing Lyon, stood, 

And faced the lowering storm of blood, 
When and where burned most fierce in ire, 

The conflagration tide of war ! 
His manly form is seen to dash — 
Hark ! hark ! the cannon's booming crash ! 

Is that a slight wound, or a scar 
For future fame ? — he scarcely heeds — 
Alas ! the mighty Lyon bleeds — 

His spirit from the mould has fled ! 
Wail, wail ye hosts that loved him, wail ! 

Your Banners craped in mourning wave ! 

Lyon, the bravest of the brave ! 
War's arrowy sleet and iron hail, 
Have told the sad and tearful tale — 

Lyon, the noble Lyon, dead ! 



To break the traitor's tyrant power, 
0, martyred one ! thy dying hour 
Had Heaven, and earth, and glory's seal ! 
When loyalty shall (with appeal 



86 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

To thy bright courage, name, and fame,) 
Its signature to Freedom place, 
In lines that time cannot efface, 

The muse shall to thy memory frame 
A verse more lofty and sublime ! 
Ah ! it were sadly sweet to rhyme. 
The tears shed at thy funeral pall ! 
Thy country's sorrow at thy fall ! 
The incident, most worthy pen, 

Or, harp of bard the " Heroine* 
Of Springfield " guarding thy remains, 
From brutal, sacrilegious men — 

Profane, inhuman, steeped in sin ! 
On the red battle-field, where veins 

* Mrs. Phelps, the wife of Col. John F. Phelps, 
of a loyal Missouri Regiment. This lady, who re- 
sides near Springfield, Missouri, after the battle of 
Wilson's Creek, while her husband was absent upon 
duty, during the night, guarded from cowardly and 
ruffianly sacrilege the body of Gen. Lyon in pos- 
session of the rebels, and brought it in safety to her 
residence. The reader will find a Poem founded 
on this incident, in the second volume which the 
Author purposes shortly to publish. 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 87 

Still poured out blood — while heaven above, 
As though in pity and in love 
To veil blood, carnage, wounds, and scars, 
Hung out the Banner of her Stars ! 

Associations, thrilling, grand. 

Shall link thy memory with the land, 

For which thou didst a hero live — 
A hero die ! Who would be like 

Great Lyon, must a hero stand ! 
In Freedom's name, for Freedom strike 

In Lyon's name, for Union give 
Heart, soul, and life, mind, strength and 

hand ! 
A Freeman and a patriot be — 
The brave alone are truly free ! 



BALL'S BLUFF. 



Sadden not, soldiers, the dear land that 

loves you ! 
Physical courage, and courage of heart, 



58 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. j 

Be/in this dark hour of danger that j^roves i 

you — I 

0, my bold countrymen, act now your 

part ! i 

As the shores beat back the waves of the 1 

deep, I 

Hurl back the traitors to covert of ! 

shame ; 

The dear land that loves you shall grati- : 

tude weep — j 

Posterity's blessings shall rest on your ' 

name !" i 

Thus spake the brave Baker, and cheered : 

on his men, 
Though he knew, that he never should I 
lead them again ! ^ 

Like a thunderbolt from the burning sky, j 

Flamed and flashed his glad sword, • 

spread his countenance while, [ 

With Union and Liberty in his bright ' 

eye — 

" My men, are you ready ?" he cried, ! 

with a smile ! | 

1 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 89 

" Bound for our country to conquer or 
fall- 
Arms to us, Freemen, are righteously- 
given ! 
All ! 'twould be hallowed to lose life and 
all, 
And bleed in the holiest cause under 
Heaven !'' 



Land of perennial beauty and light ! 

Cherish thy Union with all its fair 

Stars — 
Thy heroes, thy martyrs, thy liberty- 
scars ! 
— Thy national wisdom, and spirit, and 
might. 
Of treason, shall wipe out the infamy, 
shame ! — 
Of the names on thy history's page that 

are bright, 
The name of thy Baker, is stainless and 
white. 
And the record of Ball's Bluff, shall 
shine with that name 1 
7 



90 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

THE TOMB OF WINTHROP. 

Go thou, and mark where heroes bled ! 
The blood, for hallowed Freedom shed, 

From patriotism's veins. 
Alone is worthy earth's domain — 
All other blood is shed in vain, 

Or, for inglorious chains ! 

Go, where the battles have been fought, 
That have the wrecks and changes wrought 

Of destiny and time ! 
Empire, and dynasty, and throne — 
Study humanity alone — 

Her peace is more sublime ! 

Who fight for despotism's meed — 
For dungeons and for gibbets bleed — 

Win with their tyrants shame ! 
Who bare their breasts, their homes to 

save. 
And shed the life-blood of the brave — 

Live in their country's fame ! 

Oh, glorious in the golden sun. 
Old Bunker Hill and Lexington, 
Shine with their patriot-graves, 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 91 

While o'er their radiant, green ascents, 
Their mound and marble monuments, 

Our Starry Banner waves ! '■ 

! 

'Tis Liberty, and Truth, and Right, j 

Alone can make, revered and bright, ] 

The ensign stained with gore ! ; 

The bravery, world-renowned — the field, j 
Where booming, horrid cannon pealed. 

With death-crash in its roar ! j 

i 

Were wars alone for Freedom's cause — \ 

Home, Independence, Country, Laws, ■ 

And Truths, high-heaven-adored ! 
To tramp accursed oppression down — 

Love, even love would smile — not frown ' 

Upon the reeking sword ! i 

But slavery's brutal wrongs and chains — i 
The night, which dregs the soul and drains 

Humanity of worth, ■ ] 

Require the sword ; — far more divine — I 

The Gospel's light, true power can shrine, i 

Whose truth, is Freedom'' s birth ! j 

1 



92 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Heroes invincible have bled, 
Nobles their blood for princos shed, 

For what did Winthrop bleed ? 
— To break the fetters from the slave ! 
A hero's death, a patriot's grave, 

Are his — a martyr's meed ! 

Winthrop, the scholar — heart-refined 
Philanthropist — how bright mankind 

And liberty were in 
His golden silence, silver speech ! 
Now dead, his grave shall Freedom preachy 

The cause, he bled to win ! 

Columbia — dear united land ! 

That power thy greatness may expand 

And worth and valor bloom, 
Thou need'st no monumental pile, 
To teach thy brave to toil and smile, 

While thou hast Winthrop's tomb ! 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 93 

PATRIOTISM. 

Go, visit the ancient burial ground 

Of thy sires beloved, and shed patriot- 
tears. 
On every hallowed and lovely mound, 
Which the waste of decaying time re- 
veres ! 

Gro, visit the spot, where thy sires repose. 
The duties thou owest thy country feel ! 

In the twilight hour — day's dusky close. 
O'er the graves of thy ancestors, pray- 
erfully kneel ! 

Oh ! piety, virtue, and filial love. 

Have sweetest life in the patriot-breast ! 

And eloquent as the skies above. 

Are the bosoms, with home and country 
impressed ! 

The vales that smile in the sunny bloom 
Of May, to the freeman, must be dear, 

When the rays, that his native shores il- 
lume, 
Shine joyfully in the heart and clear ! 



94 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. j 

THE GIFT OF TEARS. 

" One glance into that heart of thine, ; 

Has made me love thee, more than life ! ] 
I will be thine, if thou be mine, < 

Say, wilt thou be my wife ?" < 

Thus, questioned the fond lover-youth j 

His own adored one, patriot-truth ! 

Smiled fervently in her reply, , 

The heart is mirrored in the eye ! 

"A soul of grandeur and of fire t 

Dost thou possess — a courage brave ? I 

And canst thou lay aside thy lyre, | 

And for thy country wave ' 

The Stars and Stripes ? leave love and '■ 

home, I 

And wield the sword till peace shall come, ' 

The harbinger of bluer skies, j 

With love and sunlight in her eyes ?" 

— Ho ! when the battle-cry alarm, 

Comes from the hosts in dread defile — ] 

What more can nerve the warrior's arm | 

Than woman's holy smile ? : 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 95 

Woman, dear woman — oh ! her power — 
How strong, how firm, in danger's hour ! 
A glory, couched in deeds — not vain 
And idle words — her love can gain ! 

— " Take, take this sword, I'll add, no 
more ! 

Take it, it is the gift of tears ! 
The red, red war is at our door,'' 

Her soft adieu he hears ! 
Like electricity, in fact 
Humanity's best instincts act. 
He seized the sword, rushed to the war, 
And made true love his battle-star ! 



FREEDOM AND COUNTRY. 

The rivers, lakes, and mountains, 
Of our Native Land, how bright ! 

The summits, vales, and fountains, 
Around its homes of light ! 

But what is all their beauty 
Or grandeur, if divine 



96 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

And patriotic duty, 

Has in the breast no shrine ? 

Nature's gigantic wonders, 

In vain our shores sublime ; 
In vain Niagara thunders, 

The transport of old time ! 
In vain our prairies blossom, 

In vain our cities tower, 
If Freedom in the bosom, 

If country has no power ! 

Oh ! language should be spoken, 

From sunny heart to heart. 
Affection's charms, unbroken. 

Sweet eloquence impart ! 
But, what is history's story. 

The bard or statesman's fire, 
If patriotism's glory 

Wreathe not the hallowed lyre ? 

In vain, our country laving, 

On each side may stretch the sea. 
If no Starry Flag be waving 

O'er the noble and the free ! 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 97 

Or, if truth's adoration — 

If Liberty's embrace, 
And home, and land, and nation, 

Have in the heart no place ! 



THE MAGIC OF LOVE. 

Oh, 'tis love bringeth light 

To our beautiful earth ! 
Oh, 'tis love maketh bright 

Every charm that has birth ! 
Oh, 'tis love maketh glad 

Every sunbeam of bliss ! 
Oh, 'tis love, sunny-clad, 

Oh, 'tis love's Eden-kiss — 
Which can ecstasy, fondness, and magic 

impart. 
To home and affection — the youth of the 
heart ! 

Oh, 'tis love yieldeth bowers 

Of moonlight and song ! 
Oh, 'tis love wingeth hours 

That music prolong ! 



98 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Oh, 'tis love's rainbow-truth, 

That the bard lives to sing ! 
Oh, 'tis love that to youth. 
Is of virtue the spring ! 
Oh, 'tis love, rosy, exquisite love, that im- 

bowers. 
The world and the heart in an Eden of 
flowers ! 

Oh, 'tis love, throbbing love, 

Giveth birth to romance ! 
Oh, 'tis love from above, 

In woman's dear glance ! 
Lendeth life its warm ties, 

And the bosom unbars — 
Her true smiles and dark eyes 

Like the eloquent stars ! 
And all things, enchanting, below and 

above. 
Wear the magic of sweet, trancing, inno- 
cent love ! 

Oh, 'tis love-stars inwove 
Make our Banner so grand ! 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 99 

Oh, for love's sake, we love 

Our own free Native land ! 
Oh, ^tis love, sweet as Heaven, 

Oh 'tis love's melting charms, 
To our smiling ones given. 
Call the brave now to arms ! 
And when patriotism has triumphed o'er 

wrong, 
— The Magic of Love shall again be our 



OUR DEAR UNION LAND. 

Our dear Union Land — oh ! our dear 
Union Land ! 
How grateful to Heaven for its smiles we 
should be! 
Its mountains and rivers, majestic and 
grand. 
Its realms so beautiful, golden, and free, 
Extending from ocean to ocean sublime, 
The transport, and glory, and wonder of 
time ! 



100 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Oh ! oar dear Union Land — liow to love 
its green shores, 
Our hearts should be kindled with pat- 
riot-fire ! 
The true-hearted minstrel his country 
adores — 
Her history's charms, ever dance on his 
lyre ! 
The freeman's rejoicing, his heart and his 

hand, 
Are all in his hallowed and dear Native 
Land! 

Our dear Union Land — oh ! its blossoms 
and flowers, 
Its scenery, grandeur, and sunshine and 
bloom, 
Its songs and its fountains, its forests and 
bowers, 

Its skies, and the summits and vales they j 
illume. 
Have a magic divine ! — oh, no land is so 

bright. 
As our birth-land, where home lends its 
rainbows of light ! 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 101 

Our dear Union Land — may its Union of 
States, 
All hallowed, and cherislied, and guard- 
ed, promote 
One union of hearts — oh, what triumph 
awaits 
Its future ! its destiny ! — every sweet 
note 
Of Liberty, teaches her brave to revere. 
The Union Republic to Washington dear ! 



The Union — our Union — 'tis Freedom's 
bequest ! 
All glorious and luminous, trancing and 
fair ! 
Republic of Washington ! Land of the 
West! 
What lands with its vastness and beauty 
compare, 
'Tis our dear Union Land — 'tis our dear 

Union Land, 
Which causes the bosom with joy to ex- 
pand. 



102 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

THE SOLDIER'S BETROTHED. 

She was a sweet May-hearted girl, 

Full of home-duty, love, and light ; 
In every blush, and smile, and curl, 

Shone something artless, true, and 
bright. 

The snows were not more lily-white, 
Or, rosy-red the flowers that bloom. 

Than her young hopes, that knew no 
blight, 
Her days, that knew no cloud of gloom. 

And she, with one did often rove. 

Where blossoms told the moon-light kiss, 
And every whisper was of love, 

Of love, with nought to mar its bliss ! 

One dream, the world could not dis- 
miss — • 
The "heart's truth," was her bosom-theme, 

Her soul was centred all in this, 
Affection was her spirit-dream ! 

She loved — but he, so dear and pure 
To her young heart was called away, 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 103 

His country's dangers to endure, 
Where traitor-foes, in fierce array, 
Prompt the wild, awful battle-fray — 

Mingling cursed yells and terrors mad ! 
She smiled, but was no longer gay, 

For sorrow had her soul made sad ! 

At length, the mournful missive came. 
That he, whose arms knew no defeat, 

To guard his country's spotless fame, 
Had made its Flag, his winding sheet 1 
Oh, how her maiden breast did beat, 

What anguish-throbs, its suffering told, 
Reason dethroned, forsook its seat, 

Her mind grew wandering, dark, and cold. 

And when the moon and stars out-stole — 
To glade and fount their silver gave — 

Where oft she with her love did stroll, 
She wandered, and would smiling wave 
The spangled Banner of the brave — 

Kiss the striped folds that wrapt his scars, 
And fancy that her lover's grave, 

Was covered with its heaven-born Stars ! 



104 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 



OH ! THE BRAVE ! THE BRAVE 1 ) 

) 

AN ODE ON THE FORT DONELSON AND BURNSIDE ' 
VICTORIES. I 

Oh ! the brave ! the brave ! 1 

How the world shall shrine their glory ; j 

The brave on ocean's wave, | 

The brave that have found a grave, ; 

The brave of our country's story ! 
The Stars that on our Banner shine, 
Their memory shall insphere divine, I 

Till heaven's whole outspread arch shall be j 
One Starry Banner o'er the free ! 

For the brave, who bled 

In freedom's name ; 
For the brave, who led 
Their hosts to fame — 
The charms of eloquence, fire of song, 
To the bard — historian belong ; 

And our " Union Stripes and Stars " — 
0, peerless Banner of the free, 
Shall wave o'er the world-encircling sea — 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 105 

The ocean-girdled earth ! 
While Heaven smiles C^.i^Lf /i^4^..i,-»Mi«^ 

sjauS^v---'" ] 

. Kisses our country bright'; ; 

^,^..f.^^^,^.ui Freedom's holy birth, . 

And crowns the cause of Right ! ' 

The hero-martyr, who to save i 

Our Union on the war-plain lies, 
How blest ! how blest the heroes grave I 

The patriot, who still lives to wave 
Our Union-Banner to the skies. j 

Oh ! the brave ! the brave ! 
The poetry of woman's eyes, i 

The smile and love of woman's heart, { 

Their passion-charms, for the brave in 
arms — 

For the brave in arms impart ! 

Anglo America ! thou well 

(With Washington to crown I 

Thy fame) mayst cherish as the stars I 

Thy heroes and renown ! 

Thy Bunker Hill, where Warren fell, I 

Thy Lexington, the first proud scars \ 

8 



106 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Of thy dear Liberty retain ! 
Thy revolutionary braves, 
Thy Scott of Luudy Lane ! 

Thy young McClellan that now waves 
Thy standard, starred like Heaven's clear 
brow! 
Thy Burnside, Butler, Grant, and "Wool, 
Thy vigilant Rosencrans and Sigel, 
And other bearers of thy Eagle ! 
And wrapt in death's peace-slumber now, 
Thy Lyon, Baker, martyred braves ! 
Thy Ellsworth, young and beautiful ! 
— The Stars and Stripes, their shroud — 
oh ! how 
Posterity shall kiss their graves ! 
Nor less revered thy naval tars, 

Dupont, Goldsborough, Stringham 

Foote, 
Who valor's seal to Freedom put — 
God bless them ! may the Stripes and 
Stars, 
Wave o'er them, till glad Heaven shall 

be 
One stainless Banner o'er the free. 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 107 

Oh ! the brave ! the brave ! 

Their patriot-worth God gave — 

And soon shall Freedom's chariots rattle, 

Triumphant from her fields of battle ! 

Oh ! the brave ! the brave ! 
All lands shall patriot-worth adore ; 

Then earth shall have no slave — 
For Freedom's torch, the sun shall be, 
The stars, the Banner of the free ! 

Columbia ! by thy Union stand, 
Protect thy Freedom, mighty land ! 
Put treason and rebellion down. 
Thy patriots shield , thy heroes crown, 
And love, with sunlight in his eyes. 
Shall bless thy fruitful soil and skies ! 
Gruard thy Hepublic — war may lower 
But in the People plant thy power 
When those, who rule, the People's choice, 
Are echoes of the People's voice, 
Well may the nation's heart rejoice ! 
The programme of our country's good, 
Shall yet be marked and understood ! 



108 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

"Who dare another call a slave ? 
Soon Heaven's warm, sunny day shall be 
One outspread Banner o'er the free — 

Oh ! " the brave ! the brave !" 



THE TAKING OF MANASSAS. 

Huzza for Freedom's battle, 

Huzza ! huzza I huzza ! 
On let us drive and rattle, 

Till we meet the crashing fray — 
Huzza for Freedom's battle ! 

Huzza ! huzza ! huzza I 

For the Stars and Stripes above us, 

Huzza ! huzza ! huzza ! 
For the hearts and homes that love us, 

We seek the sanguine fray — 
For the Stars and Stripes above us, 

Huzza ! huzza 1 huzza ! 

For Victory and Union, 
Huzza ! huzza ! huzza I 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 109 

Bless God, we'll hold communion 
With our country's stars to-day 

For Victory and Union, 
Huzza ! huzza ! huzza ! 

The whole world's eye is on us, 

Huzza ! huzza ! huzza ! 
Our cause is just — upon us 

Heaven smiles in joy this day ! 
The whole world's eye is on us, 

Huzza! huzza 1 huzza! 

Our country shall caress us, 

Huzza ! huzza ! huzza ! 
Humanity shall bless us, 

For the part we act to-day 
Our country shall caress us, 

Huzza ! huzza ! huzza ! 

Huzza for Freedom's battle ! 

Huzza 1 huzza! huzza! 
On let us crash and rattle. 

Till our bravery wins the day I 
Huzza for Freedom's battle ! 

Huzza ! huzza ! huzza 1 



110 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

But the stronghold of Manassas, 
What will Mason, Slidell say ? 

— Or, the London Times ? — huzza ! 

The rebel traitor-masses 

Run like contrabands away, 

Can King JeflF rub his glasses, 
And boast " Bull Bun affray ?'' » 



HATTERAS AND PORT ROYAL. 

The charge of the battle, the brilliant ad- 
vance, 

Give fruit to true victory. Freedom ex- 
panse ! 

The rage of war-thunderbolts rocking the 
shore, 

The onslaught, and fierceness of conflict 
are o'er ! 

North Carolina, half freedom-born, queenly 
and calm, 

Takes the oath of allegiance to " good 
Uncle Sam," 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. Ill 

While her down-south half-sister, lets go 

spunk and pluck, 
And ^^ runs" from her ''^Negroes''' — the 

best of good luck. 

While poor " old Virginia,'^ awful in ire, 

Wasting grandeur and strength like a for- 
est on fire — 

Her " Krs«5 Families'^ making ^'' Manas- 
sas " their post — 

Alas ! South Carolina, all humbug and 
boast, 

Caring not if " First Rehel," bad Lucifer, 
had 

Her " statesmen and heroes,^' all housed 
with the "feacZr 

For a cotton-bale Government, bogus at 
that, 

Leaves her " slaves" with the " Yanhees^^ 
their Freedom to chat. 

While Liberty's upward and forward-borne 

aims. 
Progressive, exalted humanity's claims, 



112 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 



Raise tlie merit of most revolutions, the ( 

shame i 

And infamy, too foul and heartless for i 

name, | 

Of this cursed, inhuman rebellion mark out, I 

Backward, downward, to despotic hondage \ 

the rout, \ 

And would put back the hand on the dial ' 

of time, 1 

A thousand years,* darkened by murder i 

and crime ! 

0, land, true and peerless in beauty and i 

light! I 

0, land, just and fearless in glory and 
might ! 

* " It has been the merit of other attempted re- ! 

volutions that their motive at least was a reaching , 
upward and forward after Liberty ; it is the infamy 
of this that it is a reaching backward and down- 
ward after despotism. It would put back the hand 

on the world's dial a thousand years." ■ 

Address of Rev. G. Battelle, a prominent, leading i 
member of the " Constitutional Convention of West- 
ern VirgiRia." i 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS'. 113 

Hast thou not learned the truth, which all 
foresight transcends — 

That thy very existence on Freedom de- 
pends I 

When national conscience, and spirit, and 
power, 

Shall give to thy Union, its conquering 
hour, 

How godlike the strength thy bright future 
should wield — 

A Nation, United 2iVi^ Liberty -sealed . 



THE PATRIOT'S JOY. 

The golden light of the sunny skies. 
Is shedding bloom for eloquent eyes, 
On every beauty and glad presage, 
Which enamelling gives to nature's page 
The minstrelsy of the spring-time birds. 
From the vocal atmosphere, that girds 
Our beautiful world, breaks forth to pro 

long 
The mirthful magic of innocent song I 



114 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

While the rosy, smiling, enchanting day, 
Lends music to all that's bright and gay, 
Let me walk forth, and with feeling glance. 
View all things, rapt in a Sabbath-trance ; 
And think how inspiring, charming, and 

grand, 
Is the scenery of my Native Land — 
Where noble kindness and worth unite, 
The strength of millions, in God's own 

light! 

The majesty of my country, I feel — 
Its past and present have Liberty's seal ! 
And its future, robed in a Paradise sun. 
And its glory — the glory of Washington ! 
Divine as Jehovah's merciful will, 
Earth's realms of hope, with rejoicing shall 

fill, 
Till, the gratitude of the brave and free. 
Be of every nation, the jubilee ! 

Long as the exiled, broken, and weak. 
Its shores, an asylum from bondage seek, 
My country's mountains, rivers, and lakes, 
The joy, its Niagara's thunder awakes, 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 115 

Its vales, and prairies, and evergreens, 
Its meads and rivulets, groves and scenes, 
Shall shine in the bloom of Elysian skies, 
A Union of freedom and patriot ties ! 

0, patriotism ! the pride of my breast, 
Is that, thou art on its folds impressed ! 
That poesy and freedom are mine 
With a cot and bower, that their bliss en- 
shrine, 
In a land, by toiling millions made great 
Whose sacred rights are inviolate ; 
Where the Muse, her ravishment imparts, 
The consecration of hallowed hearts ! 

My country — its peace and magnificence, 
Are nursed in the smiles of Providence ! 
Its history, is one triumph sublime, 
Its independence, the song of time ! 
Its birthday, and lyrics of Liberty born. 
Are charms like the anthem of Heaven's 

new morn. 
While its banners of victory, unfurled, 
Are the Stars, encircling a ransomed world ! 



116 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

NATIONAL THANKSGIVING ANTHEM. 

0, God of our Fathers, forever the same, 
In truth and in goodness, in power and 
salvation, 
All wisdom, and honor, and praise to thy 
name — 
An anthem of Freedom, the hymn of our 
nation ! 
To thee, we would frame, 
"With true, grateful acclaim — 
An anthem of Liberty, Union, Devotion, 
Of patriot, jubilant, heart-felt emotion. 
O'er the land of our birth, and its 
Star-Spangled fame ! 

For the bravery, wisdom, and worth of our 
sires, 
x\nd their patriotism — the eloquent story 
Of our country's sweet liberty, told on its 
lyres — 
The birthday of Washington, Freedom, 
and glory ! 
For truth's temple-spires. 
And home-altars and fires, 



STAB-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 117 

Our Laws, Constitution, Kepublic, and 

Union, 
We thank thee, Grod, of heart-blessed 

communion ! 
For the Flag, that its children, with 

valor inspires ! 

Let " no North and no South, no East and 
no West," 
Be our national motto — " One Union 
forever ! 
With Freedom, inseparately woven and 
blest," 
Should one son of Columbians pride try 
to sever 
One Star from her breast — 
- With disloyalty's crest, 
Be of treason and shame, the accursed in- 
stigator — 
God transmute to ashes the heart of the 
traitor ! 
And shield our dear Union, fair Free- 
dom's bequest ! 



118 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Thank Grod ! that our Union is destined to 
shrine, i 

All that's hallowed and priceless, im- I 
mortal and glorious ! I 

That our Banner of Stars has a mission I 
divine — 
Long, long may it wave, undefaced and ' 
victorious ! ; 

Till peace, love benign, 
And just freedom shall shine, 
In every green land of humanity's throb- ^ 

bing ! 
With smiles, light the homes of dark ser- 
vitude's sobbing — 
Toil, wisdom, and science, all nations , 
refine ! i 



THE BEAUTIFUL FABRIC. 

OUB GOVERNMENT — A MONUMENT TO BRAVERY, TOIL, 
AND WORTH. 

Hail ! western world of Freemen, hail ! 
May suns and stars, and Heaven grow pale, 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER TOEMS. 119 

Before thy Spangled Banner fades ! 
While all true bliss thy breast pervades, 

And peace and liberty are thine — 
May thy free States and realms of beauty, 
Beaming with every sunny duty, 

The grateful homes of toil enshrine ! 
I cannot breathe, and know I'm free. 
And sing not, hallowed land, of thee — 

Thy Union has so dear a ring ! 
Where'er we dwell on earthly clod, 
To feel the blessed awe of God, 
'Tis sweet as harp of seraph-tone ! 
Where'er the radiant sun has shone. 
Upon Columbia's verdant sod, 

I feel, as nature feels her spring — 
Where toil and worth are prized alone — 

The spread and might of Freedom's 
wing! 
Star-Spangled Banner Land ! thy name 
Illustrious, kindles Freedom's flame. 

Around her cause in every zone, 
Till from her Eagle plumes on high, 



120 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Upon oppression's realms shall fall, 
The lustres of her throne and sky — 
While flashing from her ravished eye, 

Upon this dungeon world of thrall, 
Shall blaze her glory, truth, and light, 
Like lightnings on the brow of night ! 

Yes ! praise to thee, my Native Land ! 
'Twas toiling mind, and toihng hand, 

And toiling head, and toiling heart, 
That caused thy Union to expand ! 

'Twas toil that made thee what thou art, 
Toil, noble daring, and true worth. 
That gave thy Independence birth — 

Thy liberty and thy renown ! 
Speak, Union Land of Washington ! 

Thou, who dost wear a fadeless crown. 
And laurels, by thy bravery won. 

And thine own destiny hast made, 

Foundation for thy greatness laid ! 
Shalt thou, by treasure, toil, and blood, 

Preserve thy Union, with its Stars, 
In unity forever bright. 
Like angel-eyes, bestowing light ? 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER P0E3IS. 121 

The memory of thy brave aod good ? 
Thy noble, patriotic scars ? 

Oh ! History has one page of glory, 
Thy Seventy-Six — thy freedom's story ! 
Lake Erie, Plattsburgh, Lundy Lane, 

The record of thy valor bear ! 
And canst thou not repeat again 

Thy victories, and fresh laurels wear ? 
The triumph of illustrious worth. 
Has on thy breast as true a birth ! 
Thou hast thy Scotts and Washingtons ! 
Thy wise, and just, and mighty ones ! 

The coward's vacillating heart, 
No place has in thy loyal sons — 
Knit in indissoluble files, 
To save thee from secession wiles. 

And traitor-violence ! Thou art, 
By Freedom's holy breath and fire. 

The Union of the free — still true 

To thy beloved, red, white, and blue ! 
And canst thou be the nurse of slaves ? 
No ! while thy Starry Banner waves, 

With voice, thy millions to inspire, 
9 



122 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Thy hero and thy martyr-graves, 
To thee shall be a Memnon Lyre I 



OUR COUNTRY IS ONE. 

Let our nation's rejoicing for Freedom be 
heard — 
One Republic, extended from ocean to 
ocean ! 
Shall the Atlantic's strength, the Pacific's 
arms gird 
Thy vastness, O land of our Union-de- 
votion ! 
And our hearts not unite, in one song of 

delight ? 
The days of our glad Independence recite ? 
The glory sublime of thy great Washing- 
ton ?— 
From ocean to ocean, our country is one ! 

Laved by two mighty oceans, one Union 
thou art. 
With the " right of the people to rule,'* 
demonstrated ! 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 123 

Oh ! we love thee, with patriot-fullness of 

heart, 
Our Liberty's glorious day celebrated, 
Forever shall be, a true grand jubilee. 
Uniting the noble, the brave, and the free ! 
Though vast, thy Star-Spangled renown's 

but begun, 
From ocean to ocean, our country is one ! 

Shall traitors, deriding thy Government, 
live ? 
And bluster, and menace, and man hold 
a chattel ? 
Our lives for our country — what more can 
we give ? 
With " Union and Freedom '^ — the 
chorus of battle ! 
While the forger of chains patriotism pro- 
fanes, 
Is there nothing to nettle the blood in our 



vems 



With thy Banner of Stars, and thy bird 

of the sun,* 
From ocean to ocean, our country is one ! 

* The American Eagle. 



124 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

But the brave and the loyal have died not tv 
vain, 
Thy greatness, and beauty, and splendor 
defending ! | 

The oceans that gird thee, thy commerce 
retain. 
Are to all lands the power of thy Free- 
' dom extending ! 
While thy diamond Stars shine, and thy 

Banner benign, 
Excelsior Union ! the world's cheers are j 
thine : j 

For thee, what has Popular Government i 

done ? 
From ocean to ocean, our country is one! 



THE GALLANT DEFENDERS OF SUMTER 
AND LEXINGTON. 

0, Freemen, give to rejoicing place ! 
Come, gaze in the brave man's sunny face; 

Thank God ! that we have in our An- 
derson, 

A true, and tried, and noble one ! 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 125 

First in our Liberty's defence, 

To guard our Flag — unsupported, alone! 
Ah ! tlae rebels, who did the war com- 
mence, 
Shall soon for its guilt with their blood 
atone ! 

But Sumter shall live in bravest fame, 

With its gallant defender, Anderson ! 
And wreathed with Mulligan's patriot- 
name, 
The noble defence of Lexington 
Shall in history smile ! Can our Stars 
look out 
From our Banner, on such deeds of shame ! 
And not end the traitor's triumph-shout ? 
The coward stands like a wind-shaken reed. 

And sees his rebel-comrades fly. 
Ashamed of ignoble traitor-deed ; — 

The watch-fires burning in Liberty's eye. 
Tell our country, safe, with its freedom- 
scars — 
To cheer our heroes, pure and high, 
Heaven beams in love from our Banner of 
Stars ! 



126 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 



UNION AND LIBERTY 

What true, noble blood bas been poured 
out in solving, 
Tbe problem of Freedom — yet, Free- 
dom, God gave — 
" Tbe birthrigbt of man," — ba ! wbat ages 
revolving, 
Claimed bim a mere cbattel, dull serf, 
or vile slave ! 
But foiled be eartb's dark and inbuman 

oppressors ! 
Of Justice and Rigbt, tbe ignoble trans- 
gressors ! 
Every wronged land and nation sball bave 
its redressors, 
Like Columbia, walled round witb tbe 
bearts of tbe brave ! 



If peril and danger, tby Union environ, 
0, land of true Liberty, blooming and 
brigbt ! 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 127 

Thy heroes have wills, nerves, and sinews 
■ of iron — 
Thy defenders have hearts of firm, reso- 
lute might ! 
The exile no sooner has crossed the vast 

ocean, 
Than his tears, all are turned, into smiles 

of devotion ! 
The stranger beholds thee with rapturous 
emotion — 
The eyes of the universe gaze on thy 
light ' 

Electricity's science, thy Franklin in- 
vented ! 
And thy Morse consummated its practi- 
cal use ! 
Thou hast with self-government experi- 
mented. 
And proved its success, as sublime, as 
profuse 
In its blessings, — thy Fulton, 'twas first 

educated 
Steam-power on the deep, with thy Stars 
coronated ! 



128 STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 

Thy Union and Freedom shall be demon- 
strated, 
When thy soil's announced free from 
base slave-power abuse ! 

Like gold, seven times tried in the fire, art 
thou proven ! 
Like lightnings, that strike from the 
centre of heaven, 
The truths, in thy Popular Government, 
V70ven, 
Shall strike the glad world with thy 
mission, God-given 
Like the science of lightning, thy Frank- 
lin invented, 
And thy Morse's great telegraph, unprece- 
dented, 
Thy States, in a Union of Freedom, ce- 
mented. 
Shall forever rejoice — one Republic, un- 
riven ! 

When the principles, born in thy blest 
revolution — 
When the glory of Seventy-Six and its 
scars. 



STAR-SPANGLED BANNER POEMS. 129 

And sublime declaration, are thy Consti- 
tution — 
Inalienable freedom and rights — oh ! no 
jars, 
Nor Union-dissolving, shalt thou, be de- 
ploring ! 
Then, shall Union and Liberty, crown thine 

adoring ! 
The emblem of Freedom, thine Eagle, up- 
soaring — 
The emblem of Union, thy Banner of 
Stars ! 










llliiSS.'!l,?.T,.,9'' CONGRESS 






016 117 803 2 ^ 



l^i^^^>^«^, 






